Nora Krug, Belonging

The pastiche or collage graphic memoir by Nora Krug, Belonging, traces her increasing curiosity about her family’s involvement in supporting the Nazi Party and the persecution of Jewish people in the 1930-45 period. Was her grandfather a reluctant follower, compromising his values because the price of resistance was too high? Or was he, and other family members, active Nazis? Along the way, discussions of collective guilt, memory, ties to family, self-identity, etc. are explored. The collage and drawing work is striking and well-executed. It almost feels like a day trip through a long, extended, museum gallery. Super-interesting. My one quibble, that I can understand, but at the same time cannot understand, is why Nora’s father and sister AnneMarie never spoke again. Nora’s father’s childhood and adolescence was likely (from the graphic memoir) filled with abuse, and the trauma presumably remains even 70 years later.

Unknown's avatar

About mkevane

Economist at Santa Clara University and Director of Friends of African Village Libraries.
This entry was posted in Book and film reviews. Bookmark the permalink.